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Offering English
language help
Dear Sir,
Without wishing to encroach on the business of language
schools - which seem to be doing very well judging by the ads for teachers
- I find it offensive that school children have to pay to learn English.
My business deals with many families who bring their
children to paint plaster models and batik pictures at Royal Garden Plaza.
It is very noticeable how few Thai children can manage even a few words of
English, yet many of them are supposedly studying the language at school.
The importance of English is clearly demonstrated in the staff wanted
columns of this and other English language newspapers, yet the only local
kids who speak fluently are either attending an international school or
are on Indian or Pakistani parentage.
This is in stark contrast to many other Asian and
western children holidaying here. I was especially impressed to find that
Russian and other former-soviet bloc children start English at age 6 and
are reasonably fluent by 10 or 11, and their economies are in an even
worse state than ours!
If there is any organization that provides free
assistance to local schools for teaching English, I for one would be
willing to help in some small way.
My business does not leave much free time; after two
years here my Thai is still very limited and I am not a trained teacher
but I could certainly contribute in, say, pronunciation and vocabulary for
a couple of hours a week. I’m sure that many other native English
speakers, probably better qualified than I am, would be willing to help in
much the same way if an organization exists, or can be established. With
the new school year starting in mid May, perhaps someone could get the
ball rolling?
Regards
Bernie (Sanouk Handicrafts)
Bad Food &
Service in Naklua
Sir,
When I was last in Pattaya, I went to what used to be
one of my favourite restaurants, the one in Naklua opposite the Asia Bank.
I have eaten there just about every time I have visited Pattaya for the
past eleven years. I used to think of it as one of the best Thai
restaurants I had ever been to when there was an old lady doing the
cooking. The standard dropped when she stopped cooking because she got too
old, but it was still very good. It was always a pleasure to eat there.
The staff was always friendly and helpful, and I always said hello to the
old who would be sitting there.
Sadly, last time I went I could not see the old. My
friend and I ordered some food. Mine was all right but I was surprised
when my friend nearly vomited at the table and rushed off to the toilet.
When she came back, she pointed to a green worm crawling on her plate. The
restaurant took her plate away and brought another plate of rice, which
they added to the bill. They did not offer to replace the dish which the
worm came from. My friend could eat no more because of the reaction the
worm had on her so I did not insist that they replace her food because I
had enough to eat myself.
When it came to time to pay the bill, 410 baht, I said
that I did not think we should pay all because my friend was unable to eat
her food. They offered a ten baht discount. I offered to pay 200 baht, the
cost of my food. They would not negotiate. In fact because they were so
uncompromising and inconsiderate in the way they handled the situation, I
wanted to call the tourist police to sort out the matter but did not have
their number. As a matter of principle I did not see why I should pay for
dirty food. The sum of money involved was not small and unimportant.
They called the local police who would not or could not
give me the phone number of the tourist police, and insisted I paid the
whole bill.
I must have spent quite a few thousand baht there over
the last eleven years. The restaurant got their 410 baht, but they will
never get another baht from me.
Before any readers say that I am just another whining
farang, let me say that my friend was Thai, and she was just as disgusted
by the way the restaurant behaved as I was.
I strongly advise readers to give that restaurant a
miss.
All the best,
John Lancaster
Nowhere to hide
Editor;
I am in total sympathy with Mr Al Deins who writes with
such feeling about this subject in the current issue of the Pattaya Mail.
It has taken this millennium year to discover that the answer I thought I
had found seems now not to be available. This has been simply to get out
of the city for a week or so, and let them get on with it. I chose to go
to Bangkok by train on the afternoon of 12th April (even trains get a
washing as they pass through the Makkasan area approaching Hua Lumphong
terminus, but this can usually be avoided). Next day I continued to my
chosen destination by an air-con train, in perfect comfort. (There are
buses for those who prefer them, but I’m not one!)
Thus, until 2000 I have spent the time in relative
comfort, a wary eye open to warn me of dirty water around. Surin twice,
Phitsanulok once, Hat Yai once, have all been successful refuges, but
trying Phitsanulok again this year I was witnessing scenes straight from
Pattaya. And it was continuous until long after dark, all over the
normally quiet city. Moreover, it was a daily performance over the long
holiday, from my arrival on the evening of Wednesday through to Sunday
with just a little on Monday, which was a well-concealed holiday in lieu
of a Buddha Festival the previous Saturday. Even the Post Office did not
open for almost a week!
So it looks as if even modest Phitsanulok is ‘out’.
Where can we go to avoid this period of barbarism from people who are at
other times so charming and friendly? Any suggestions, please Mr Deins -
or anyone else who does not wish to participate in this curious idea of
‘fun’.
Yours Sincerely,
John D. Blyth
Thanks for the
rugby
To the Editor,
After a wonderful International Pattaya Rugby 10’s
held on the 22nd & 23rd April, Letchworth R.U.F.C. on their inaugural
tour to Thailand would like to thank Dave Garred for putting together a
very enjoyable, successful, competitive and well organised tens tournament
at a first class venue. The club also thanks all of the sponsors, in
particular Kim Fletcher of Delaney’s, the International School of the
Regents for the use of their facilities, Victor Wilkie of Foster Wheeler
for the trophies and Global Silverhawk for their generosity.
Despite the disappointment of losing to Bangkok
Corsaires in the semi-final of the main competition the club is determined
to return and to be represented next year.
Once again many thanks to all of those involved
sponsors, organisers and players for your friendship and hospitality. We
look forward to our next visit.
Yours Sincerely,
Jack Tiernan
Letchworth Gardee City R.U.F.C.
Hua Hin Songkran
experience
Dear Editor,
You may have heard this a 100 times, but I went to Hua
Hin for the Thai New Year and it was wonderful. On the 13th at 9 a.m. it
all started and at 9 p.m. it was over. No all night music, drunks, fights
or fireworks, just 12 hrs. of all having a good time. Some even got a
little respect if they didn’t want the water to be thrown on them.
Maybe, just maybe, Pattaya can learn something from our
friends on the other side of the bay.
Loving kindness,
Jess Salazar
Safety &
Garbage
Dear Sirs:
I have been living in Pattaya since January and have
been impressed by the positive changes resulting from articles and letters
published in your newspaper. I am hoping this letter will result in the
same.
Last week I went to see a movie at the Big C theater
complex. After the movie was finished, everyone in the theater started to
leave via the exits on either side of the screen (large double doors
opening outwards). To everyone’s surprise, both sets of doors were
locked from the outside and we had to wait for the theater employees to
open them. Obviously in an emergency situation, locked exits in a theater
can only lead to panic and greater injury.
Big C appears to be a very professionally run complex
and I hope this was only an isolated incident or poor judgment on the part
of an individual employee. I would hate to see a repeat of the tragic
accident in Jomtien.
If the theater complex is concerned about “gate
crashers”, I might suggest installing one-way bar locks which always
allow exit from the inside.
On a separate issue, I was very impressed by the
organization of the Pattaya Festival and the installation of many new
garbage cans along Beach Road on the ocean walk side (almost one every 10
meters). Now that the festival is over, maybe a few of these garbage cans
can be relocated to Walking Street. The other night I could not find one
public garbage can between the beginning of Walking Street and the 7 - 11
store at the other end.
Sincerely,
Kim Johansen
Thanks for the
response
Dear Sir,
The responses to my earlier letter about the identity
of the aircraft lying in a scrap yard near Sri Racha have been very
gratifying and interesting. The aircraft is certainly a Fairchild
“packet”, which was given the USAF military designation C123. Mr.
Monahan’s suggestion that it was a C147 (also known as DC3 and Dakota).
The nicely mounted and preserved aircraft set in the wall of the Royal
Garden Plaza on Second Road is a C47.
I visited the scrap yard again today (30 April). Far
from being scrapped, the C123 is being reassembled! Both piston engines
are back in place, as are the two small auxiliary jets, although I doubt
very much that they are in working order. Everything inside the aircraft
is being tidied up. I asked an official at the yard if the plan was to
make the old crate airworthy once again. He laughed and said no. It is for
sale, and offers in the region of B.2,500,000 will be considered. It would
make a splendid “theme” restaurant for Pattaya similar in concept to
the railway carriage restaurant that operated in the garden of a hotel on
the Beach Road between Central Road and Soi Yodsak. Does anyone else
remember it?
Come on Flying Vegetable Restaurant, why not make a
bid?
Yours Faithfully
Oliver Minto
Copyright 2000 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek, assisted
by Boonsiri Suansuk.
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